Wicket game-board.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

No. 731,439r

c. tr. DoRsEY. WIGKET GAME BOARD. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 15, 1902. RENBWED APB. 11, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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Yfermented June 23, 1903.

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PATENT CHARLES J. DORSEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO REUBEN FINNLL, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

WICKET GAME-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 731,439, dated June 23, 1903. Application led July 15, 1902. Renewed April l1. 1903. 4Serial No. 152,262. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. DoRsnY, a Y resident of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wicket Game-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same. 1o This invention relates to game-boards having wickets, ball-holding pockets, and other features hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figurel is a plan view of the improved board. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section, on a larger scale, of a wicket, 'also on line 2 2. Fig. 4. shows a ball and securing device. Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view, on a'larger scale, of a modification. Fig. 6 is a reverse plan zo view of the board, and Fig. 7 is a sectional View on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Numeral l indicates a board preferably twenty-two by twenty-four inches and having a su rroundin g rim .2,which extends both above 'z 5 and below the board and serves as a stop for balls and also, when desired, as a lrebounding-surface for balls projected against it.

On the board, occupying one-half thereof or a little more, are several, as nine, cagego `wickets 3-that is, wickets having more than two limbs, preferably four, 4 4 4 4, in pairs in planes at right' angles to each other. The

wickets are or may be cast in one piece and preferably have in addition to the several legs a cup-like top 5. The wickets are arranged in desired order-for example, in

nearly triangular shape, as shown. The two intermediate side wickets of the triangle are placed a little outside of the straight sides of the triangle to give improved access to the interior wickets. The side wickets maybe spaced, as shown, with the intervening spaces decreasing from front to rear; but this is not essential. The wicket-tops or some of them are provided with means for securing a string thereto, as a central hole 6, into which a pin 7, secured to a string 7', may be pushed. Such string at its opposite end is connected to a ball 8.V In Fig. l only two ballsS are shown 5o in position under wickets; but when the board is in use such balls will be placed under all of the wickets having the cup-like tops 5. Sonie of the balls, as 8, in the rear row may have no string, these being free to move from their wickets .and to land sometimes in the pockets 9. Said pockets 9 are back of 'the wickets and on either side of the central row of wickets. 'lhe depressions may be in the wood of the board, as in Fig. 2, or when the board has a felt cover ll may be formed by 6o cutting out circular or other shaped parts of the felt, as at l0, Fig. `5.

It is preferred to place the wickets used with string-connected balls with the crossing arches at forty-five degrees to the length of 65 the board; but this is not essential, although it increases the chances of landing the balls in the -top cups.

Some of the wickets, as those used with balls free from strings, may have their cross- 7o ing arches respectively parallel with the length of the board and at right anglesl thereto. When thus arranged, balls can only be shot into them by rebounding from the border.

Under each wicket a similar depression 12 is formed suflicient in size to hold the balls in place when arranged for a game until hit by a projected ball. Around each wicket is marked a'circle 12a, preferably of bright color. 8o

At the forward end of the board are several marked shooting areas 13, and on the inner side of the rim maybe marks toindicate approximately where balls should be made to strike to rebound into the wickets.

The board thus far described maybe used in several 'ways-for exam ple, two players each have a like number, say six, of balls to shoot, which they do by snapping with the finger or otherwise. Under the wickets in 9o the depressions are balls S, secured to the wickets by their strings, and under some of the wickets are balls without strings. The first player tries to shoot his balls one at a time against a ball under a wicket, thus landing Vsaid balls on top of the wickets or in depressions 9.

The wicket-balls may have different values marked thereon, and count is taken of value of balls landed in cups 5 and of balls 8a, land- 'roo ed in pockets 9. The rules of the game may be varied and the values of balls landed in pockets 9 by a player be subtracted from the values landed by him in the cups.

It any of the balls shot come to rest Within a circle 12, they may become tied up and may be released by the other player landing some ot' his balls within rings l2 or otherwise, according to rules adopted.

When desired, balls with strings may all be removed by simply pulling pins 7, and all balls without strings may be placed under the wickets to be knocked therefrom by snapping other balls against them, as already described. The counting may be governed by values marked on the balls and those landed in pockets 9, as above described, or otherwise.

'lo increase the attractiveness and value ot the board, the reverse side is provided with a checkerboard. Also to make an additional game arranged in the checker-board are thirteen or other number of depressions 18 ot a size to hold balls in place, but not large enough to interfere with the use of the board for checkers. Some of said depressions 18 are shown in squares of the board and others at meeting corners ot squares; but this arrangement is not essential. The balls with values marked thereon above described may be used in these depressions.

19 indicates a spinning teetotum, preferably hexagonal, the sides of which are correspondingly numbered to the balls. In playing the teetotum is spun by the fingers and released on the board and in its travel may strike one or more of the balls, knocking it or them from the depressions. The teetotum then falls, and if the upper number thereon is the same as the number on the ball or the sum of the numbers on the several balls knocked counts for the player; otherwise not. The balls are then4 reset and the second player has his turn. Other modifications in the Way of using this side of the board may be introduced.

I claiml. A game-board for shooting balls, having several cagewickets arranged in substantially triangular form on one part of the board, and a space in front ofthe apex ofthe triangle from which to shoot balls.

2. A game-board for shooting balls, having several cage-wickets in substantially triangular arrangement, the intermediate side cagewickets being slightly outside of the sides of a true triangle.

A game-board for shooting balls, having several cage-wickets in substantially triangular arrangement, the side cage-wickets varying in distance apart, as set forth.

4. The combination of a game-board, wickets thereon, said wickets having cup-like ballreceiving tops.

5. The combination of a game-board, wickets thereon, cup-like tops to the wickets, and means for connecting a ball and string thereto, for throwing the ball into the cup.

6. A cage-Wicket having its members in planes at right angles to each other, and a cup-like depression in the top ofthe wicket.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. DORSEY.

lVitnesses:

C. CHAs. FRIEDEL, REUIPEN FINNELL.

from depressions said number 4o 

